Top 10 cricket memes of 2015

The internet can be democratic and merciless at the same time as it has empowered everyone to voice his/her opinion. Cricketers find it particularly hard at times as every action of theirs is analysed, criticised or trolled on the internet these days.Memes have emerged as a popular form of entertainment to voice opinions and satirise popular figures on the internet. And some of them can be exceptionally ingenuous, creative and funny.We searched the internet and came up with this list of top 10 cricket memes of 2015.

#10 Banglawash? Not happening!

Image courtesy: Cricket Trolls

The Indian team was much trolled for losing 1-2 to Bangladesh in the ODI series this year. Bangladesh have been in phenomenal form, doing a lot of giant-killing throughout the year. The Bangladeshi fans had cried foul after their quarter-final loss to India, holding biased umpiring responsible for their defeat.

They, therefore, were glad to have their revenge when India toured Bangladesh later this year. The architect of their victory was Mustafizur Rahman as the Indian batsmen had no answer to his cutters. Bangladesh had a brilliant year in ODI cricket this year.

#9 Gayle storm

World Cup 2015 got to witness yet another trademark Chris Gayle classic as he bludgeoned his way to a double century against Zimbabwe at Canberra. Gayles 215 came off just 147 deliveries and included 10 fours and 16 sixes. He had a strike-rate of 146.25 during the innings as he butchered the Zimbabwean bowling attack.

The West Indies finished with a total of 372 for 1 thanks to a comparatively sedate knock of 133 from 156 balls from Marlon Samuels who was at the other end.

#8 Familiar story

England’s World Cup woes continued as after being knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in the group stages, their cricket team suffered the same fate in the ICC World Cup 2015 this year. England looked to be down and out throughout their World Cup campaign.

After they crashed out of the tournament, their team was overhauled with an injection of youth. They went on to win the Ashes this summer and have played some really good cricket since then.

#7 World Champion? Not to be!

AB de Villiers has been in tremendous form this year but even he could not carry his side over the line as they lost to New Zealand in the semi-final of the World Cup. It was heart-breaking for cricket fans around the world to see AB in tears. It was too near, yet too far for the South Africans.

New Zealand led by Brendon McCullum played some brilliant cricket to reach the final before eventually losing to Australia.

#6 That magic spell

Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson was considered to be one of the best ever in the World Cup this year. He troubled the Australian batsman with pace and bounce but was let down because of some poor fielding. Pakistan failed to defend their low total which set up the possibility of a mouth-watering clash between India and Australia in the semi-final.

India would eventually go on to lose quite badly in the semis to eventual champions Australia.

#5 The Mauka Mauka ad campign

The Mauka Mauka ad campaign which Star Sports ran during the World Cup 2015 became immensely popular. It started with the first video in the series mocking Pakistan for having always failed to beat India in the World Cup. But it soon turned into a full-blown series with a new video being released about India’s next opposition before every match in the tournament.

The videos went viral and generated a series of memes which because of their popularity pretty much broke the internet. The series also had its fair share of detractors who said that the videos have been made in poor taste.

#4 And when the campaign backfired

Though the Mauka Mauka ad campaign was considered to be one of the best ever by many, others, however, criticised it heavily as too egotistical and jingoistic. Whatever it might have been, it seemed to backfire after India lost heavily to Australia in the semi-final.

The ad campign was heavily mocked in the afermath of that loss while the BCCI office is said to have received relentless phone calls trolling them. It must have been an unhappy time for the BCCI!

#3 Not a Test batsman?

Image courtesy: Criclife

Rohit Sharma has been one of the better performers for India in limited-overs cricket this year. But his form in Tests has been abysmal to say the least for which he got relentlessly and mercilessly trolled.

From trying to leave deliveries to going for big shots to hit out of trouble, Rohit Sharma tried everything in Tests this year but to no avail. Rohit must be wondering \what he must do to replicate his ODI form in Tests.

#2 One of the most trolled cricketers ever

Whether he does things right or not does not seem to matter when it comes to trolling Sir Ravindra Jadeja. Though Jadeja continues to feature in the current list of best all-rounders, the common perception is that he has undeservingly got more than his fair share of chances. Jadeja looked flat and uninspired early in the year for which he was axed from the team.

But he broke back with a series of brilliant domestic performances and has carried his good form into the home series against South Africa.

#1 AB, the superman

Image courtesy: The Cricket Lounge

2015 has been a brilliant year for AB de Villiers who has been butchering bowlers for fun and breaking all kinds of records. When AB is in the mood, there is truly very little you can do as a captain to try to stop him.

From creating crazy angles to defying the law of physics, is there anything that AB de Villiers cannot do? He is surely the superman of modern cricket. We are lucky to see him bat.